With Medical Marijuana Program Kicking Into Gear, Reunion Coming For Naperville Family
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Now that Illinois has begun issuing licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana, a Naperville family could soon have a happy reunion, more than a year after a mother and her children moved to Colorado to take advantage of that state's medical cannabis laws.
Nicole Gross' 8-year-old son Chase was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was six months old.
"At one point, he had 4,000 seizures a day. They happened literally all day long," said Gross. "You're trying to keep him safe and trying to keep him functioning at the highest level possible."
When medication didn't help him, she made a drastic life decision.
"Chases' seizures became worse in November of 2013, and he didn't have any options in Illinois, so we decided we just need to move," Gross said.
'We could lose him, or we could move to Colorado'
She and her sons moved to Colorado, where medical marijuana was legal and could help Chase, leaving her husband behind in Naperville. Illinois had legalized medical marijuana a few months earlier, but was still a long way from actually implementing a pilot program.
"We noticed a difference after about a week, and it started to improve every week thereafter. At that point, we were consistently hitting 90% seizure control," she said.
Chase takes a medical cannabis extract that is diluted in olive oil. He ingests it under his tongue, by using an eyedropper. Gross said he'll probably have to do this for the rest of his life.
Now, the new law in Illinois means she'll be able to come home soon.
"We'll be back anywhere between six months to a year … depending on the cultivation center, and how far along they are in their building process," said Gross.
Gross was instrumental in the passing of Illinois legislation to allow adults and children with epilepsy and other seizure disorders to take medical marijuana as treatment. She has now become an advocate for other children like her son.
"There are still an number of families in Illinois, these kids don't have access to this and don't have the option to move. Several still experience thousands of seizures a day. We've pushed for legislation not only so we can come home, but for those kids who don't have access right and will have access as soon as possible," Gross said.
Moving to Colorado was a big decision for Gross, but an easy one. She said she has no regrets, because it's made all the difference for her son.
"Very easy decision," she said. "We could lose him, or we could move to Colorado. We'll take the moving to Colorado," she said.
Gross and Margaret Storey will also be honored as the recipients of the Hero Award for Inspirational Commitment at the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago's annual Heroes Night Gala on February 20th. Tickets are available online.
